Grinding machine



Dec. 22, 1936. M. ROMAINE ET AL GRINDING MACHINE Filed Deo. 19, 1952 4sheets-'sheet 1 fifi 9 l ffy f f iff Tf 717 y] w VW Ly i J9 l r [S-Jl-l'i g :C:

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Dern 22, 1936. M, ROMNNE ET AL 2,065,099

GRINDING MACHINE Filed bec. 19, 1952 4 sheets-sheet 2 Y l j] Jj ff 4 f4Y y Y Z6 l//- r ll Y Z/ |||m||lnlilllluh,...

Dec. 22, 1936. MROMAINE rr-A| GRINDING MACHINE Filed Dec. 19, 1932 4Sheets-Sheet 3 M j W M WW w 4 M w n y n, @Num M @NQ Q. Q www WNW Dec.22, 1936. M. ROMAINE ET Al.

GRINDING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Dec. 19, 1952 e I?? a Z245 vZP?atented Dec. 22, 1936 UNiTEc sTATEs PATENT OFFICE GRINDING MACHINE ofOhio Application December 19, 1932, serial No. 647,868

7 Claims. (Cl. 51-166) This invention relates to improvements in machinetools and especially to improvements in means for supporting androtating the spindle of a grinding machine.

An object of the invention is the provision of an improved grindingwheel spindle drive whereby the pull of the belts and the like is nottaken by the spindle.

Another object of the invention ls the provision of a spindle that mayform a self-contained unit of a machine tool organization.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a spindle assemblyparticularly adapted for use with grinding machines and whereby theWheels may be replaced on the spindle without disturbing the spindlebearings or adjustment thereof.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a spindlefor a grinding machine or the like 4that may be driven froman outsidesource and thereby relieve the spindle of any belt pull or other lateraltorque.

It is also an object of this invention to reduce the idle time of themachine usually consumed during the changing of the grinding wheels, byproviding a mechanism whereby the whole grinding wheel and spindleassembly may be made up in advance and substituted for the one in themachine, so that the only idle time is that required to manipulate acouple of simple clamping mechanisms and substitute the spindleassemblies.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention should be readilyapparent by reference to the following specification considered inconjunction with the accompanying drawings, forming a part thereof, andit is to be understood that any modications may be made in the exactstructural details there shown and described within the scope of theappended claims without departing from or exceeding the spirit of theinvention.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a grinding machine embodying theimprovements of this invention.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the machine shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an end elevational view of the machine shown in Figures 1and 2 and as seen particularly from the right hand end thereof.

Figure 4 is a longitudinal sectional view through ,'he spindle, as'seenfrom line 4 4 on Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a sectional view axially through the driving shaft as seenfrom line 5-5 on Figure 2.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary elevational view of the plates and partsconnecting the driving shaft with the spindle and forming a detail ofthe invention.

Figure 7 is an enlarged elevational view of the spindle assembly andshowing the guard therefor in cross section.

Figure 8 is a view partly in section and partly in elevation as seensubstantially from line 8-8 on Figure 1 and illustrating the lubricatingsystem for the spindle bearings.

Figure 9 is a sectional view through a manually operated auxiliaryspindle lubricating mechanism, as seen from line 9-9 on Figure 1.

Figure 10 is a sectional view through one of the spindle bearings, asseen from line itl-l0 on Figure 2.

Figure 11 is a view taken on line I l-I I of Figure 6 showing in plancertain of the parts shown in Figure 6.

Throughout the several views of the drawings similar referencecharacters have been employed to denote the same or similar parts.

In the past it has been customary to directly connect a power sourcewith a spindle by means of belts or other exible transmission members byapplying said members directly to the spindle or a. pulley carriedthereby. In order to maintain the proper frictional grip between saidbelt or other transmission member, considerable pressure is necessary,which has a tendency to spring the spindle and cause it to run out oftrue. In addition the tension oi the belt or transmission member throwan unnecessary strain on the bearings causing said bearings to wearexcessively at the portions thereof directly in the 1ine of tension. Inaddition where a grinding wheel or other member is mounted on a shaft orspindle in between the bearings that support the said shaft or spindle,it is necessary to break down the bearing and thereby disturb theadjustment thereof in order to replace said wheel or other part. By thepresent invention these and other serious inconveniences anddifficulties have been overcome, since the belt pull is not on thespindle, but on a member extraneous thereto and the wheels may bereadily replaced even though intermediate the support bearings withoutin any wise disturbing said bearings.

In the drawings the invention is illustrated in connection with acenterless grinding machine of the vertical type and since the machineas a whole has no pertinence as respects the invention, it will be verybriefly and generally described. Therefore, the machine as a wholecomprises a bed vor supporting structure: I6 having rising therefrom acolumn I6. Oscillatably mounted on the column I6 is a slide I1 rotatablysupporting a spindle to which is secured a plurality of regulatingwheels I8. Also carried by the slide I 1 is a work electing and loadingmechanism I9 for placing work pieces on the regulating wheels andremoving same therefrom.

Above the regulating wheels I8 is disposed the grinding wheel spindle20, shown inAFigure 4 as having its opposite ends reduced as at`2I and22. 'I'he reduced ends 2| and 22 are the spindle bearings and since theyare substantially identical in structure as well as the enclosingbearing, it is deemed suillcient if but one of them be described indetail. These bearings are shown in Figure 4 on sections taken at rightangles to one another and comprise a shell 23 having formed on the lowersurface thereof angular seats 24 and 25 respectively engagingcomplementary seats formed on a supporting housing 26 secured in anydesirable manner to the upper surface of the column I 6. Adjacent theseats 24 and 25 the shell is provided with notches 21 and 28respectively receiving clamping lugs 29 and 30 formed on clamp arms 3|and 32. One end of the arm 3I is pinned or otherwise secured to a shaft33 rotatably journaled in ears 34 provided by the ,housing member 26.The other end of the arm 3I is forked to provide ears 35 in which isjournaled a shaft 36 passing through the eye 31 of a bolt 38. One end ofthe clamp arm 32 is likewise pinned or otherwise secured to a shaft39rotatably journaled in ears 40 formed on the housing 26 and has itsother end forked to provide ears 4I between which the free and threadedend of the bolt 38 is received. Threaded to the free end of the bolt 38is a clamping nut 42 which engages the adjacent surface of the arm 32.From the foregoing it will be noted that rotation of the nut 42 in agiven direction will tend to draw the forked vends of the arms 3I and 32toward one another, thereby rotating the arm 3| in a counter'clockwisedirection and rotating the arm 32 in a clockwise direction, causing theclamping lugs 29 and 30 to force the shell downwardly and insureengagement between the seats 24 and 25 thereof with the complementaryseats on the housing 26.

'Ihe bearing shell 23 is provided with a bearing sleeve or bushing 43having its exterior tapered and received in a correspondingly taperedbore in the shell. The extreme end of the sleeve or bushing 43 isthreaded to receive a nut 44 whereby the bearing may be adjusted asrespects the .shell to take up wear and the like therein. To preventrotation of the sleeve or bushing a key 45 is provided being secured inany desirable manner such as by the screws 46 to the shell 23. Dust caps41 and 48 are provided to seal the interior of the shell and partscarried thereby from foreign particles and coolant usual with grindingmachines.

'Ihe spindle 20 adjacent each of the bearings 2| and 22 is provided witha tapered portion 49 and 50 to which is respectively keyed tapered plug5I and sleeve 52. The sleeve 52 has slidably mounted on it a taperedring 53 keyed thereto for ro-' tative movement therewith, but for axialmovement independently thereof. Mounted on the tapered plug 5I andtapered ring 53 is a cylinder 54 having an internal bore greater thanthe maximum dimension of the bearing shells 23 wherebythe sleeve 54 maybe removed from the spindle 22 over the bearing shells. In thisconnecaoeaooo d tion it should be noted that the sliding tapered I ring53 is likewise provided with a bore of a sufficient diameter to belikewise slid over the bearing shell 23 and thereby permit the removalof the said ring 53. In order to retain the parts, that is tapered ringv53 and cylinder 54 in position, the sleeve 52 of the spindle 20 hasthreaded to it an adjusting and locking nut 55 which is also providedwith a bore suicient to permit passing therethrough of the bearingshells 23..

The cylinder 54 is keyed or pinned as at 56 to the tapered plug 5I andis provided adjacent this plug with a radial flange 51 forming anabutment for the grinding wheel spacer sleeve 58. As shown in thedrawings, use is made of four grinding wheels, but it is to beunderstood that a single wheel of a length substantially equal to thelength of the sleeve 54 or even a narrow wheel, as is usually employedon L'single wheel grinding machines, or any number of wheels may bemounted on the cylinder 54 depending entirely on the type of workdesired to be performed thereby. The wheels shown in the' drawings areindicated by reference characters 59, 60, 6I and 62, the grinding wheel59 abutting on the other end of the spacer sleeve 58. The other wheelsare spaced from one another by means of spacing sleeves 63, 64 and 65.Abutting on the other side of the wheel 62 is the clamping sleeve 66which also engages with a clamping nut 61 threaded on the free end ofthe cylinder 54. From the foregoing it will be noted that the grindingwheels and spacing sleeves are all clamped between the radial ange onthe cylinder 54 and the clamping nut 61 threaded thereon. It should alsobe noted that upon withdrawal of the nut 55 and sliding tapered ring 53the cylinder 54- may be removed entirely from the spindle 28 and with itthe grinding wheels in assembled form or the cylinder 54 may be allowedto remain undisturbed on the tapered plug 5I and tapered ring 53 and thenut 61 backed off, which will pass over the nut 55 and consequently thebearing shell 23 and any one or more of the wheels on the cylinderremoved or replaced.

One end of the spindle 20, hereinafter referred to as the driving end,is provided with a tapered nose 68 to which is secured as by means ofthe nut 69 a spider 10. 'Ihe spider 10 is provided with a pair of arms1I and 12 each of which is formed to provide fingers 13 and 14. Eachpair of the fingers 13 and 14 receive between them driving dogs 15 and16, shown in Figure 5 as in the nature of anti-friction bearings 11rotatably mounted on studs 18 carried by lugs 19 projecting outwardlyfrom the face of a driving plate 80. The plate in turn is securelyattached as by bolts and nuts 8| to a flange 82. The connection betweenthe plate 88 and the flange 82 is a flexible one for .which purpose eachof the bolts is surrounded by a rubber bushing 83 whereby vibration andshock are effectively dampened without in the least sacrificing theefficiency of the drive.

The flange 82 has a splined connection as at 84 with a driven shaft 85.The shaft 85 is journaled intermediate its ends on anti-frictionbearings 86 carried by a bracket 81, bolted or otherwise secured to thehousing 26. A nut 88 is threaded on one end of the shaft 85 to preventIinadvertent dis-association of the flange 82 therefrom and to clamp theshaft to the bearings 86 and eliminate any lost motion or play betweenthese parts. The other end of the shaft 85 is provided'with a flange 89to which is suitably bolted or otherwise secured a pulley or sheave 90of the multiple V-belt type.

Extending about the sheave or pulley 90 is a plurality of transmissionbelts 9| of the V-type which are in turn extended about a sheave on theend of motor shaft 92 of the electric motor 93 secured to the rearsurface of the column I6. As shown in Figure 2, the motor sheave isenclosed within a suitable guard or cover 94 carried by the side of thecolumn I6.

From the foregoing it will be noted that the drive for rotating thegrinding wheels is from the motor 93 through the flexible or othertransmission belts 9| to the driven sheave' 90. The

drive shaft ls bolted to the sheave and consequently receives its powerfrom the sheave 90 which in turn through the flange 82 and plate 80rotates the spider 1| secured to the spindle 20. It will be noted thatthe flexible connection between the spindle 20 and the driven shaft 85effectively prevents any belt pull from being exerted on the spindle 20and consequently on the bearings for the spindle.

In order to take the end thrust of the spindle and in order to properlyposition the parts, there is provided an L-shaped arm or bracket 95, seeFigure 2, bolted or otherwise secured at one end of the column I8 andbeing provided at its other end with an aperture in which is disposed abearing support 96. The support 96 is provided interiorly thereof with acylinder 91 in which is disposed for axial movement relative thereto apiston 98. The piston 98 is in turn hollowed out and formed of twoparts, 98a and 98h. The parts 98a and 98h are each provided with a seatbetween which is disposed an antifriction thrust bearing 99. The thrustbearing 99 is in turn clamped between a flange |00 and a nut the formerintegral with while the latter is threaded to a. hollow shaft or pistonrod |02. The hollow shaft or piston rod |02 extends through a centralbore formed in the driven shaft 35 and terminates against a swivel jointhead |03 formed integral with or secured to the driving end of thespindle 20. The swivel joint head has formed therein a bayonet slotlreceiving the head |04 of a tie rod |05 that extends through the hollowinterior of the piston rod |02. The other end of the rod |05 hasthreaded thereon a nut |06 which abuts on a washer |01 engaging the freeend of 'the piston rod |02. It is between the head |04 of the tie rod|05 and the washer |01 and nut |06 that the parts are connected to oneanother and whereby the spindle and driven shaft are axially alignedwith respect to one another.

When it ls desired, as is usual practice, to axially reciprocate thegrinding wheel spindle and grinding wheels, hydraulic pressure isalternately introduced in the ends of the cylinder 91. For this purposethe cylinder 91 has entering it at opposite ends ports |08 and |09through which the hydraulic medium passes tov the opposite ends of thepiston 98. In order to limit and adjust the length of the stroke ofreciprocation, the piston portion 98a. has threadedly secured to it a.nut ||0 which is adapted to be locked in its adjusted positions by meansof screw and abuts the outer surface of a plug |45 carried by thebearing support 96. In addition, the bearing support 96 is provided withlugs or ears |46 between which is pivoted the hinge member |41 integralwith dust cap |48. This cap |48 encloses the outer ends of the tie rod,piston portion 98a and stroke adjusting nut ||0 and -port ||5 connectedto one terminus of a lubricant supply pipe or conduit H6, the other endo1' which terminates at a suitable lubricant circulating puma not shown,as is usual construction. Connected with the port ||5 is a lubricantreservoir ||1 having extending into it an upstanding pipe ||8 throughwhich the lubricant enters the reservoir- |1 from the port H5. Thelubricant in this reservoir rises to the height of the upstanding pipesH9, of which there may be more than one, whereupon the lubricant flowsthrough said pipes to the well ||3. The well ||3 is connected by meansof conduits |20 and |2| and the port |22 with a valve controlledcoupling |23 carried by the bearing shells 23. The coupling |23 isformed of two parts, |24 and |25, the former being threaded into thebearing shell 23 while the latter is carried by the pipe or conduit |2|.A spring loaded check valve |26 is associated with the portion |24 ofthe coupling, while a similar spring loaded check valve |21 isassociated with the portion |25 of the coupling. Carried by one of theseportions is a rod |28 which unseats the valves |26 and |21 when theparts are connected to one another. These portions are connected to oneanother in operative relation by a quick connection taking the form of abayonet joint.

The lubricant reservoir ||1 is provided with a central stem portion |29through which is formed a port |30 encircling a valve rod |3|. The port|30 is connected by means of transverse port |35 with the interior ofthe reservoir The valve rod |3| has secured to one end thereof a valvemember |32 and to the other end a head |33. A spring |34 surrounds thestem |3| and abuts against the plunger head |33 for normally holding thevalve |32 to its seat and preventing any flow or discharge from thereservoir ||1 through the ports |35 and |30 into the well ||3.

When first starting the machine, as in the morning after an all nightshut down or after any other period of rest during which time thelubricant may have had a chance to drain from the well ||3, the head |33is rst engaged to unseat the valve |32 and permit a ow of the lubricantfrom the reservoir ||1 to the bearing shells 23. This will provide amplelubricant for the bearings and prevent a heating and seizing there ofprior to the time the pump is in proper operation. To prevent animmediate closing of the valve |32, the head |33 is provided with aflange |36 which closely engages an upstanding boss |31 associated withthe reservoir and which acts as a valve to prevent the influx ofatmospheric pressure in the space defined by these parts and therebyretards the seating of the valve i 32.

In order to remove the spindle and its bearings from the machine it isnecessary to disconnect the lubricant conduits or pipes from the bearingshells which is readily accomplished by separating the portions |24 and|25 of the coupling between the lubricant pipe and said bearing shells.'To prevent the discharge of any lubricant that may be in the well ||3 orthe conduits |20 and |2| the check valve |23 immediately closes uponseparation of the coupling portions. Also to prevent any foreignmaterial entering the bearing shells and to prevent the loss oflubricant that might be in the said shells when the spindle isv beingtransferred, the check valve |26 is immediately appliedto its seat.

To assist in the removal of the spindle and all parts carried therebythe bed column I6 has secured toit a pair of uprights |38 and |39supporting the beam |40 which carries the block and tackle and otherrigging indicated generally at |4| which may be attached to the spindleto facilitate the removal thereof. During normal grinding operations andto confine the coolant usual with grinding machines, there is provided ahood member V|42 which effectively encloses the grindirg Wheels andparts associated therewith and the hood is pivoted at |43 to suitablelugs or ears |44 provided on the casting ||2 whereby it may be disposedout of the way during the removal of the spindle.

It is believed from the foregoing that the y construction and operationof the present lnvention should be readily understood without furtherdescription thereof.

What is claimed is: f

l.'In a mechanism of the class described the combination of a spindle, abearing for each end of the spindle and including ashell for eachbearing whereby the bearings within each shell maybe adjusted, and atool supporting cylinder carried by the spindle, said cylinder having abore therethrough whereby it may be removed from the spindle over thesaid bearings Without disturbing the adjustment thereof.

2. A spindle unit for use with machine tool structures comprising aspindle, spindle bearings carried by the spindle, a shell surroundingeach of thespindle bearings and having formed thereon seats for use inassembly in the machine tool organization, a tool supporting cylinderadapted to pass over the bearings and their shells and to be disposed onthe spindle without interfering with or interference by the spindlebearings and their shells, and means removably clamping the saidcylinder to the spindle.

3. A spindle unit for use with machine tool structures comprising aspindle, spindle bearings carried by the spindle, a shell surroundingeach of the spindle bearings and having formed thereon seats for use inassembly in the machine tool organization, a tool supporting cylinderadapted to pass over the bearings and their shells and to be disposed onthe spindlel without interfering with or interference by the spindlebearings and their shells, and means removably clamping the saidcylinder to the spindle, said means including-tapered cones adjustablewith respect to one another for centralizing and clamping the cylinderto the spindle.

4. A spindle unit for use with machine tool structures comprising aspindle, spindle bearings carried by the spindle, a shell surroundingeach of the spindle bearings and having formed thereon seats for use inassembly in the machine tool organization, a tool supporting cylinderadapted to be disposed ,on the spindle without interfering with orinterference by the spindle bearings and their shells, means removablyclamping the said cylinder to the spindle, and means removably clampingtools tothe cylinder whereby :aid tools 'may be removed and replaced onthe cylinder without disturbing either its mounting on the spindle orthe adjustment of the spindle bearings.

5. In ,a machine tool organization the combination with a bed havingformed thereon spindle bearing seats, of a spindle unit including aspindle and bearings therefor, means removably securing the spindle unitto the spindle bearing seats of the bed, a driving unit carried by thebed including a driving shaft operatively connected to the spindle, apulley on the driving shaft, and a prime mover carried by the bedoperatively connected with the pulley for rotating same and partsconnected therewithwhereby the belt pull is exerted on the driving shaftbearings and not on the spindle bearings.

6. In a machine tool organization the combination with Aa bed havingformed thereon spindle bearing seats, of a spindle unit including aspindle and bearings therefor, means removably vsecuring the spindleunit to the spindle bearing seats of the bed, a driving unit carried bythe bed including a driving shaft operatively connected to the spindle,a pulley on the driving shaft, a

prime mover carried by the bed operatively connected with the pulley forrotating same and parts connected therewith whereby the belt pull isexerted on the driving shaft bearings and not on the spindle bearings,and a flexible connection between the spindle and driving shaft fordampening any vibrations that may be transmitted from the prime mover tothe driving unit.y

7. In 'a machine tool organization the combination with a bedl havingformed thereon spindle bearings seats, of a spindle unit including aspindle and bearings therefor, means removably securing the spindleAunit to the spindle bearing seats of the-bed, a driving unit carried bythe bed including a driving shaft operatively connected to the spindle,a pulley on the driving shaft, a prime mover carried by the bedoperatively connected with the pulley for rotating same and partsconnected therewith whereby the belt pull is exerted on the drivingshaft bearings and not on the spindle bearings, a flexible connectionbetween the spindle and driving shaft for dampening any Vibrations thatmay be transmitted from the prime mover to the driving-unit, and meanscarried by the driving unit for effecting the axial reciprocation of thespindle relative to its bearings. 1

MILLARD ROMAINE. WALTER D. ARCI-IEA.

